The Project

The client wanted a design respectful of the Carroll Gardens neighborhood and sensitive to the scale and exterior language of nearby brownstones. KSQ segmented the seven-story building into scaled panels with a strong horizontal line at the top of the fifth level. The sixth and seventh levels step back for the penthouse to minimize the sense of height. Architectural elements such as cement stucco and a window wall further break down the scale and visually integrate 360 Smith Street into the neighborhood. The building sitting directly over the subway presented unique project challenges and required transit authority design approval for ADA access, distinct access points to the building and parking garage, and an entire steel structure over the subway to prevent vibration mitigation. The team developed steel columns resting on vibration attenuators allowing this super steel structure to effectively float above the subway plaza.

The team addressed the 33’ setback required by formal land planning by creating a garden plaza between the building and the sidewalk. Future Green Studio created a geometric planting with a series of stacked bluestone planter boxes with large swaths of grasses, perennial flowers, and drought tolerant plants. The bluestone planters are also in the building’s lobby, along with a reclaimed wood feature wall. The team added a green roof with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and downtown Brooklyn. The green roof is an ecological intervention scrubbing water of pollutants before flowing to street level, and also a relaxing space with cedar screens and planters establishing areas for lounging, dining, seating, and playing. The landscape design received Special Mention in the 2013 Architizer A+ Awards for Architecture and Urban Transformation.

Floor plans accommodate single professionals, couples and families and the building has a state-of-art fitness center, storage on each floor, parking options, and elevator access. Each of the 48 apartment homes have a custom kitchen, video intercom, washer and dryer, oversized rooms, and fixtures by Toto, Kohler and Duravit. The apartment homes were leased within 12 weeks of listing, and the street level retail space was soon occupied by famed dessert destination Milk Bar.

“I just wanted you to know (as if you didn’t already) how gratified I am that we’ve got Rachel on this job. She has managed this project so professionally, creatively and thoroughly in these early stages, and I know she’s just as good in the later stages.”– William Stein on KSQ Senior Associate and Project Manager Rachel Birnboim Kochman, AIA, LEED BD+C

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KSQ’s latest multifamily design for Essex Capital is the largest residential project underway in Ridgewood, Queens, and currently under construction. The Madison Street building will offer 90 apartment homes in one and two bedroom units, a unique street-level façade and feature a WeWork-style business center. Read more about the project and see the design in this Crain’s New York Business article. 0000